20 Weeks!

Definitely starting to show more! :)

10 weeks versus 20 weeks :) Wow - You can sure see a big change!

5 v. 10 v. 15 v. 20 :)

How far along:  20 weeks

How big is the baby: Junior is the size of a banana! 

Total weight gain/loss: I am about ½ a pound under my pre-pregnancy weight.  I think this means I gained about ½ a pound this week.  I expected to at least be at my pre-pregnancy weight this week.  I’ve been weighing myself pretty much daily for quite a while.  This week I started getting upset at how high the numbers were getting (and how quickly they were climbing).  So, I made a conscious choice (with Pete’s encouragement) to not obsess as much.  I didn’t weigh myself every day.  I didn’t count calories.  I tried to be aware of what I was eating and to not over-indulge, but to let myself have a snack when I got hungry, etc.  This is a big adjustment from the last year, when I was really focused on losing weight.  It’s obviously a good and needed change, while I’m growing this baby.  It’s just different for me!  Anyways, based on the weights I was seeing at the beginning of the week, I was so surprised to weigh in today and see that I’m not yet to my pre-pregnancy weight.  That’s pretty good for 20 weeks! Haha :) (Earlier this week, the scale was telling me that I was 1 or 2 pounds over my pre-preg. weight, which is why I was so surprised at the end of the week.) 

Maternity clothes: As my stomach has popped out a little more, I’ve been more inclined to wear maternity tops or regular tops that look like maternity tops.  My hope is that people will recognize a baby belly and not an “I eat too much pizza and ice cream” belly :)

Stretch marks: Nope!
Sleep: I’m struggling to sleep through the night already – I didn’t expect this so soon!  I find myself waking up often because I need to go to the bathroom or to change my position haha :)

Exercise: I went to the Y with my mom a couple of times this week.  Our schedules didn’t line up as well as they normally do.  I also have been fighting off some significant headaches this week :(

Best moment last week: See below!!!!

Movement: Junior moves around all the time still.  Sometimes it just feels normal now, which is crazy to me.  On Wednesday night, when we were going to bed, Pete felt him move for the first time!!!!! It was such a special moment <3  I loved seeing the big grin spread across Pete’s face as he connected with our son :)  (That’s so cool to say – “our son”)  He only kicked/moved once, but Pete definitely felt it!  I look forward to him feeling it more :)  I also, again, noticed the correlation between “real” pants (with a button/zipper) and Junior’s activity.  He really doesn’t seem to like how they feel!

Food cravings/aversions: I had my tuna melt! Haha :) I tend to get nausea with headaches; so, some days this week, I felt like I was back to the first trimester – dealing with not wanting to eat anything or only certain things, running to the bathroom, etc.  Last night I was struggling to get to sleep because of a headache.  I then found myself suddenly very hungry!  So, I got up at 1am and had a bowl of cereal! Haha :)

Other symptoms: Typical back pain, nausea, dizziness, and hunger…  An update on the cramping: I have definitely noticed that I feel better on the days that I drink more.  After feeling better, it’s hard for me to remember to drink, though! Haha – it’s a catch-22 :) And then I’ve been dealing with headaches!  :(  If you know the experience I had in 2012-2013 (I’m sure you do if you’re reading this!), then you understand my particular frustration and discouragement with this.  I’d really appreciate your prayers!!

Gender: IT’S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!! And my suspicions were right :) <3 I have found myself perusing the boy clothing section on more than one occasion, just daydreaming :)
Labor signs:  Nada

Belly button: Still in!

Weddings rings: On!  

What I miss: Being able to comfortably lay on my belly.  I had been able to until this week.  I wouldn’t do it for long because Junior would start kicking me…  But, suddenly this week, it just hurts to lay on my stomach for more than a couple minutes.  Oh well, at least I don’t have trouble laying on my side! Haha :)

What I am looking forward to: Registering and picking out fun things for our sweet little guy <3  And giving Junior a name! :) We have names we’ve discussed, but haven’t settled on anything yet.  And, yes, we’ll be keeping the name a secret until he’s born! :)

Weekly Wisdom: When people say, “You’ll know when to stop laying on your stomach because it will get uncomfortable,” they’re right.  I kept thinking I wouldn’t know because I was still able to do it, even though I was growing, etc.  However, I laid on my stomach in bed for 20 minutes on Wednesday night and could not believe how uncomfortable it was!